During their long course of historical development, China’s different peoples have developed individual customs regarding food, clothing and etiquette, in response to their own particular environments, social conditions and levels of economic development. Generally, the Han people take rice and noodles as their staple diet, love to eat vegetables, beans, meat, fish and eggs, and pay particular attention to cooking techniques. The Uygurs, Kazaks, and Ozbeks enjoy roast mutton kebabs, unleavened bread and rice. Mongolians often eat beef, mutton and dairy products, and drink tea with milk. Koreans like sticky rice cakes, cold noodles and kimchi (hot pickled vegetables). Tibetans take tsampa (roasted highland barley flour) as their staple food, and drink buttered tea. The Li, Jing, Dai, Blang and Hani all chew betel nuts. The typical costume of Manchu women used to be the qipao (a close-fitting dress with high neck and slit skirt). Mongolians wear their traditional robes and riding boots. Tibetans love to wear Tibetan robes, waistbands and boots. Yi, Miao and Yao women wear pleated skirts, and are often bedecked with gold or silver ornaments. Uygurs wear diamond-shaped embroidered skullcaps. Koreans are known as “white clothing ethnic group” because they love dressing white.
